[twindman]

I made an almost fatal move. I too used a 'tap' and cleaned it out, but turned it way too much. Made the hole too large most of the way in.
The last 2 or 3 years I have put a LOT of tape on the anode threads and get it pretty tight. Usually I have to turn it slightly again a day later, as water is seeping out. But that seems to finally get it tight. I am waiting for the year it doesn't stop leaking!!!!!

My tank is under an 'island' in the kitchen and the sides of the island are nailed or stapled from the inside out! So I could push the siding in and eventually get at the tank but no way to reattach the sides.